Signaling apparatus.



H.` BL ANDERSON & P. JUSTUS` s. M. ANDEnsoN. AoM|N|sTnATmx or H. a.Munson, nzc'u.

SIGNALING APFARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED HARK 9;.194 1,178046. Patented Apnnfl. 1916;

2 SHEEIBw-SHEET 2.

20a, f7-1H In lxCvrv'frsfsgES.' [NVE/v 'roms' UNITED STATES PATENToEEIcE.

HAROLD B. ANDERSON AND PAUL JUSTUS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO; BLANCHE M.ANDERSON, ADMINISTRATRIX -OF SAID HAROLD B. ANDERSON, DECEASED,ASSIGNORS OF ONE-THIRD TO EDWARD C. RANNEY, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO.`

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that We, HAROLD B. ANDER- soN andPAUL J UsTUs, citizens of the United States, residing at Cleveland, inthe county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain newand useful Improve ment in Signaling Apparatus, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to alarms, and more particularly to alarms of thetype that are intended to operate automatically to call attention to theextinguishing of a signal light. An alarm of this kind is particularlyuseful in connection with the rear or tail li ht of an automobile; alsoin connection with the lights which are placed on the rear ends oftrains and suburban cars.

It is the general object of this invention to provide an automaticallyoperating alarm of the character set forth which, while simple ofconstruction and economical of production, is particularly eliici'ent inoperation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of thischaracter which, while including a normally open electric circuit forthe alarm signal will prmit of a convenient testing of this circuit fromtime to time to ascertain Whether it is broken.

Further and more generally speaking, the invention may be dened asconsisting of the combinations of elements embodied in the claims heretoannexed and illustrated in the drawings forming part hereof, wherein-Figure 1 represents a perspective view of that part of the alarm signalwhich is located at the observers station; Fig. 2 a vertical centralsectional view through the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a viewcorresponding approximately to the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 adiagrammatic view of the circuits whereby the signal alarm circuit isautomatically closed upon the breaking of the lighting circuit; Fig. 5 aview, similar to Fig. 4, of an alarm device wherein the `circuit isthermostatically controlled; and Fig. 6 a View, similar to Fig. 5, of afurther modication wherein the circuit including the thermostat has anelectric lamp therein.

Describing by reference characters the various parts illustrated herein,1 denotes a.

casing which contains the alarm signal and 1ts operating mechanism. Thiscasing is shown as frictionally fitting over the outer reducedcylindrical end 2 of a base 3, said base being of insulating materialand being secured to the support 4 in any convenient manner. In the caseof an automobile, the support 4 preferably will be the dash.

The reduced end 2 of the base carries a segmental metallic plate 5 which'1s adapted to contact with the inner surface of the casing 1, as willappear more clearly from Fig. 3. The casing l is preferably of metal andhas provided in the face which is viewed by the operator a lens 6 of anydesired color, such as red. Back of the lens there is located anelectric lamp 7, the socket of the lamp being supported on theinsulating base. Within the casing and supported on said base is anelectromagnet" 8, preferably comprising a pair of cores and coils andhaving an armature 9 connected by a flat curved spring 10 with a post11. When the magnet is deenergized, the armature is adapted to engage acontact 12 on an L-shaped post 13 which preferably rests upon themetallic base of the lamp 7 both the lamp base and the post 13 beingconveniently connected to the insu- .lating base by means of a commonscrew 14.

15 denotes a ring which is mounted within the casing 1, beingconveniently supported by a pair of posts 16 from the base 2, 3.

17 denotes a curved spring switch arm connected at one end to the casing1, between the ring 15 and the casing, and having its other end providedwith a push button 18. The switch arm 17 will preferably be concavedwhereby, when out of operation, it will lie against the inner surface ofthe cas- 19 denotes a post from which the coil winding 20 extends, theopposite end of the winding extending to the post 21 and to the plate 5.o

22 denotes a conductor extending from the post 13 to one of the posts16, whereby the conductor is in electrical contact with the ring 15.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, it iscontemplated that the alarm shall be used in connection with the taillamp of an automobile or the rear lamp or lamps of a car or train, tolight the lamp 7 and illuminate the lens 6 when the former lamp or lampsare extinguished. The way in which this result is accomplished will beapparent from an inspection of Fig. 4, wherein a rear lamp is indicatedat 23 and the batteries or other source of electric energy at 24.

The tail lamp circuit will now be described.

20 denotes the conductor extending from one side of the battery (orother source of electrical energy) through a switch 25 to and throughthe lamp 23, thence around the cores of the electromagnets 8 and throughthe conductors 26 and 27 back to the battery. It will be evident that,as long as the circuit through the lamp 23 is closed, the magnets 8 willbe energized and the armature 9 be held against the cores thereof.Should, however, this circuit be broken, the spring 10 will throw thearmature against the contact 12, establishing the alarm signal circuit,whereupon current will flow through the circuit including the conductor28, lam 7, contact 12, armature 7, conductor 29 an conductor 27, back tothe battery.

Should the operator desire to test the alarm signal circuit, it is onlynecessary for him to press inwardly upon the push button 18. This willbring the switch arm 17 into engagement with the ring 16, whereupon thealarm signal circuit through the lamp 7 will be closed through theswitch 25, conductor 29, lamp 7, ring 16, switch arm 17, casing 1, plate5, and conductors 26 and 27. Owin to the small resistance of thiscircuit, su cient current will How through this circuit to illuminatethe lamp unless the circuit be broken in some manner, as by the breakingof the lamp filament.

It will be seen that three electrical circuits are provided, one ofwhich includes the tail or rear lamp and the windings of theelectromagnet, one of which includes the armature of the electromagnetand the alarm device, while the third is a test circuit which includesthe alarm device but includes neither the electromagnet windings nor thearmature.

In Fig. 5, there is shown a modification of the invention wherein thelamp, the eX- tinguishment of which is to be indicated by the alarm, isnot necessarily an electricV lamp. In this modification, the lamp 30 maybe an oil lamp, the llame whereof is arranged to heat a thermostaticswitch 31, so constructed that, by the heating of the thermostat to acertain temperature, one end thereof will engage a contact 32. Assumingthat the lamp 30 is burning properly, the current will flow from thesource of electrical energy 24 through conductors 33, 34, contact 32,switch 31, conductor 20a, around the cores of the electromagnets 8 andback to 24 through the conductor 35. The alarm circuit will then bebroken by the armature 9 being retained against the cores of theelectromagnets. Assuming, however, that the flame of the lamp 30 1sextinguished, or that it burns so low as to be ineffective, the coolingof the thermostat will cause the foregoing circuit to be broken by theflexing of the thermostat away from the contact 32. This will denergizethe magnets 8, and the alarm circuit will then be established as,heretofore explained, through conductors 33, 29a, lamp V,7 contact 12,armature 9, conductor 28a and conductor 35. To test the signal circuitit will be necessary only to push in the button 18, whereupon thiscircuit will be established through conductors 33, 29", lam 7,.,r`1ng16, switch 17, casing 1, block 5, an conductors 36 and 35.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a still further modification of the inventionwherein the circuit of the electric lamp which is to be protected isthermostatically controlled and wherein the alarm signal circuit will beautomatically closed not only as by the breaking or deterioration of thefilament of the electric lamp, but by the substantial ineffectiveness ofthe lamp which heats the thermostat. In this embodiment, the currentfrom the source of electrical energy 24 flows to the electric lamp 23through the conductor 37, contact 32, thermostat 31I1 and conductor 38,thence through conductor 2Ob around the cores of the magnets 8, andthrough conductors 39 and 40 back to 24. Assume, however, that thecircuit including the lamp 23 is broken, as by the breaking ordeterioration of the lamp filament or through the lowering orextinguishing of the lamp 30. In such event, the circuit through thealarm signal will be established through conductor 41, lamp 7, contact12, armature 9, conductor 28J and conductor 40.

The alarm circuit may be tested in the same manner as in the twopreceding embodiments of the invention, viz: by pressing inwardly uponthe button 18, whereupon the circuit will be established throughconductor 41, lamp 7, ring 16, switch 17, casing 1, block 5, andconductors 42, 39 and 40.

In all three embodiments of the invention disclosed herein two circuitsare provided, one of which operatively includes and is controlled by thelamp to be observed and the other of which includes the signal alarm,with connections whereby the second circuit will be automatically closedthrough the opening of the first circuit, and vice versa; also that, inall three embodiments of the invention a testing circuit including thealarm signal is provided, the testing circuit being in shunt with thefirst circuit.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. In an apparatusof the character set forth, the combination of an electric circuit, alamp therein, a second electric circuit, an

alarm signal therein, connections whereby the alarm signal circuit willbe closed through the opening of the first mentioned circuit, a testcircuit for the alarm signal, and a source of electrical energy commonto the first and last mentioned circuits.

2. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of anelectric circuit, a lamp therein, a second electric circuit, an alarmsignal therein, connections whereby the alarm signal circuit will beclosed through the openings of the first mentioned cirlcuit, and a testcircuit for the alarm signa 3. In an apparatus of the character setforth, the combination of an electric circuit, said circuit including alamp and the winding of an electromagnet, a second electric circuitincluding an alarm signal and the armature of said magnet and adapted tobe closed by the movement of the armature away from said magnet, amanually operated test circuit including the alarm signal, and a sourceof electrical energy common to said circuits:

4. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of anelectric circuit, said circuit including a lamp and the winding of anelectromagnet, a second electric circuit including an alarm signal andthe armature of said magnet and adapted to be closed by the movement ofthe armature away from said magnet, and a manually opereted test circuitincluding the alarm signa 5. In an apparatus of the character set forth,the combination of an electric. circuit,

a second electric circuit, an alarm signal therein, connections wherebysaid alarm signal circuit will be closed through the opening of thefirst mentioned circuit, and a test circuit for the alarm signal.

6. In an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of anelectric circuit including a lamp and an electromagnet, a. secondcircuit including an alarm signal and the armature of said magnet andadapted to be closed by the movement of the armature away from themagnet, a casing for the electromagnet and the alarm signal, a switchcarried by the casing, a testing circuit for the alarm signal includingsaid switch, and a source of electrical energy common to all of saidcircuits.

7. Inv an apparatus of the character set forth, the combination of anelectric circuit including a lamp and an electromagnet. a second circuitincluding an alarm signal and the armature of said magnet and adapted tobe closed by the movement of the armature away from the magnet, a casingfor the electromagnet and the alarm signa a switch carried by thecasing, and a testing circuit for the alarm signal including saidswitch.

In testimony whereof, Iwe hereunto aflix our signatures in the presenceof two witnesscs.

HAROLD B. ANDERSON. PAUL J USTUS.

Witnesses:

W. A. WALKEMEYER, O. M. WHITERBERGER.

